TORONTO - Rural landowners are threatening to clear-cut a huge swath of land in eastern Ontario to protest the lack of compensation in the province's new endangered species law, an action that could leave an endangered bird homeless, the Ontario Landowners' Association said Tuesday.
The province is forcing landowners to take drastic action -- which will destroy the habitat of the endangered loggerhead shrike -- by refusing to compensate people whose property values plummet and farming activity is curtailed under the law, said association president Jack MacLaren.
Instead of protecting endangered plants and animals, MacLaren said the Liberal government is encouraging landowners to destroy the habitat of the endangered species rather than lose their livelihood.
"We're making a point,'' said MacLaren, whose controversial association is known for once sending a picture of a dead deer to Liberal cabinet minister Leona Dombrowsky with her name written on the photo.
"This legislation will have the opposite effect from what is intended . . . You're forcing good stewards of the land, good stewards of the environment and therefore good stewards of endangered species to do the unthinkable.''
The governing Liberals brought in new legislation a year ago that expanded the number of protected animals in Ontario and allowed scientists to determine which species should be added to the list each year.
The Liberals set aside $18 million over four years for the law which many said isn't enough to ensure co-operation.
"They've left out the words full, fair and timely compensation in the act,'' MacLaren said. "If it's for the public good -- which is the intention of the act -- then the public should pay if there is a cost to the private landowner.''
Conservative Randy Hillier, a former head of the landowners' association, broke ranks with his party Tuesday in saying the government is driving people to protest. The only reason why birds like the loggerhead shrike exist in rural Ontario is because landowners have taken good care of the land, he said.
"They should be doing things that reward landowners,'' Hillier said of the Liberals. "There is no carrot, it's just a stick.''
Premier Dalton McGuinty said the government is committed to strengthening the protection of endangered species under the new law. The threat to clear-cut 100 square-kilometres isn't "helpful,'' he added.
"If you want to have a discussion, then let's find a way to have that discussion,'' said McGuinty. "We think we have a higher responsibility to other generations to come when it comes to protecting endangered species.''
Janet Sumner, executive director of the CPAWS Wildlands League, said the law does provide funding to help people do their part to protect species from extinction. The endangered species law itself is a "last ditch'' effort to save hundreds of Ontario's plants and animals, she added.
"Obviously there are going to be challenges,'' she said. "We need to rise up to meet them. It's a shame that others are . . . dealing with this by ruining habitat for species that are currently at the brink of extinction. It's very disappointing.''
Landowners may have a good case but mowing down thousands of hectares of land in protest "defies logic,'' said Conservative Bob Runciman.
"It just boggles the mind,'' Runciman said. "That's absolutely the wrong way to go . . . To take that kind of an initiative which damages the environment sends out all the wrong messages about their organization.''
Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield said the province is still working with farmers and private landowners to ensure they understand the law and can comply with it.
"Farmers are good conservationists. They've been doing this for years,'' said Cansfield, adding there is nothing the province can do to stop the clear-cutting if it's done on private land.
New Democrat Gilles Bisson said many have concerns about the new law, but clear-cutting huge swaths of land is just an "odd thing to do.''
